Acoustical assembly



Jan. 20, 1942. Y CHAMBERS 2,270,268

ACOUSTICAL ASSEMBLY Filed June l9, 1940 Sheets-Sheet l lNVENTOR fi/fl A.(fiama/ix TTORNEY 1942- J. A. CHAMBERS ACOUSTICAL ASSEMBLY Filed June19, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Ci 621 ATTORNEY (m W @n w w PatentedJan. 20, 1942 ACOUSTICAL ASSEMBLY John A. Chambers, Swampscott, Mass.,assignmto Johns-Manvllle Corporation, New York, N. Y., a. corporationNew York Application June 19, 1940, Serial No. 341,221

14 Claims.

The present invention relates to acoustical asr semblies, andparticularly to assemblies including lighting units, the instantapplication being a continuation-in--part of my copending applicationSerial No. 293,713, filed September 7, 1939.

My previously filed application, Serial No. 293,713, is directed to theprovision of an acoustical treatment employing a plurality of perforated facing elements with sound-absorbing pads therebehind, incombination with lighting fixtures incorporated in the treatment as aunitary part thereof.

The instant invention is concerned with a similar combination, in which,however, the acoustical treatment comprises a plurality ofself-contained, integral, sound-absorbing panels. The invention isparticularly concerned with and has for its principal object theprovision of a suspension means for a ceiling or partition structureincluding acoustical units of the type referred to and lighting unitscomprising troughlike members containing illuminating devices such, forexample, as the so-called fluorescent" units. The latter compriseelongated glass tubes, the interior surfaces of which are coated with amaterial which will glow brightly or fluoresce in the presence ofultra-violet radiation produced in the tubes by means of a mercury vaporarc.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a partition orceiling including a suspension means for the acoustical and lightingunits as referred to above, which will adapt the partition for readyassembly and disassembly.

My invention will be more fully understood and further objects andadvantages thereof will become apparent when reference is made to themore detailed description thereof which is to follow and to theaccompanying drawings, in which;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view with parts broken away of a combinedacoustical treatment and lighting means in accordance with theinvention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on self-sustaining,relatively rigid material and are preferably beveled at the corners "ofexposed edges. Each unit is provided along its edges with a slot orgroove I3 approximately midway of its thickness. .Above the grooves l3,the units III are recessed as at l5 to receive portions of thesuspension means between adjacent units ofthe assembly without affectingthe continuity of the exposed face of the treatment.

The lighting units l2, as previously referred to, comprise an invertedtrough-like member 14 suitably formed of sheet metal or the like and mayinclude end flanges l6 whereby a plurality of the members I 4 may besecured together in endwise abutting relationship by bolts, welding, orthe like to extend the trough as illustrated particularly in Fig. 1.Each member l4 supports a lighting means of any suitable type which,however, preferably comprises an elongated glass tube l8 in which amercury vapor arc may be produced to cause fluorescence of an innercoating to obtain fluorescent lighting of the type previously described.The tube is supported in the member l4 in any suitable manner and acasing 20 is provided for the electrical connections and otherelectrical elements of the lighting means which, per se, forms no partof the instant invention. The side walls of members M are retroverted toprovide flanges 22, the flanges including preferably integral beads 24.

The suspension means for the lighting units and the acoustical unitscomprises a plurality of longitudinally extending, substantiallyparallel attaching members or T-bars 32 suspended from the inner ceilingor base 30 as by suspension members 34. The T-bars comprise a base 36and resilient'converging side flanges 38, including locking lips 40, andmay be formed of any suitable, relatively light-gauge metal. The T-barsare spaced apart at intervals, depending upon the particular arrangementof lighting units and acoustical units desired. In the constructionshown for the purposes of illustration, troughs l4 alternate with fourrows of the acoustical panels II). It will be understood, however, thatany other suitable relationship between acousticalunits and lightingunits may be employed.

Bridgingspaces which are to receive the acoustical units between theT-bars are members 42, suitably channel-shaped in cross section. Asillustrated, the assembly of the T-bars, channel members 42 andsuspension means 3tmay be made by fastening the suspension means to thechannel members 42 as by bolts 44 and securing the members 42 to theT-bars as by clips 46.

However, as will be understood, any other arrangement may be employed,for example, suspension means 34 may be secured directly to the bases 36of the T-bars and channel members 42 may rest on the bases of the T-barsor be secured thereto, if desired. Channel members 2 support a runner50, which, preferably, is in the form of an I-beam including horizontalflanges 52, by means of hangers or the like 54. Flanged, substantiallyL-shaped members 55, hereinafter referred to as L-members, includingbeads 58 in the vertical walls thereof, are inserted in the r-bars withtheir beads 58 in engagement with a lip 40 of the T-bar. L-members 56and runners 50 preferably extend completely across the area to betreated. Inverted T-members 60 bridge the spaces between the L-members56 and runner 50 with their ends resting on the flanges of said members.

In forming the assembly of the instant invention, after the T-bars,channel members 42, and runners 50 have been placed in position, eitherthe trough members or the acoustical units may be initially installed.Assuming that the troughs are first to be positioned, these are placedbetween the T-bars and forced upwardly until the beaded flanges 22 areinterlocked between the flanges 38 and lips 40 of the T-bars. 56 arethen similarly forced between the lips oi. the T-bars and the previouslyinserted flange of the trough-like members, with the flange of theL-member extending outwardly. A T-member 60, preferably having one ofthe flangestorming the head of the T removed, is placed to bridgebetween the member 56 and runner 50 adjacent a boundary of the area tobe treated, with its flange extending inwardly. Two of the units in arethen placed in position between the T-bar and runner 50, with theflanges oi! the members 56, 50 and 60 received in the respective edgeslots iii. A filler strip 62 may be inserted to till the slots in thecontiguous edges or the units to prevent breathing between the units. Asecond T-member 60 is then placed in position, with a flange received inthe outwardly facing slots of the previously installed units and theoperations repeated. The units III are installed between the otherT-bars and runners 50 in the same manner.

As previously pointed out, the above description and the drawings aredirected to the preferred construction in which the troughs II arecomparatively widely spaced. However. other arrangements may beemployed. For example, only one or two rows of the acoustical units maybe placed between the lighting units in any desired area, or for thatmatter a plurality of the lighting units may be placed side by side incertain areas. In any of these cases the T-bars are suitably arranged tosupport the lighting unit troughs in the desired locations. I! but oneor two rows of acoustical units are needed to flll the spaces betweenthe T-bars, the runners III are not required and support for the units Iis provided in the first case by L-members 58, although T-members 80 mayalso be employed to prevent breathing between the units, and in thesecond case by the L-members i and T-members 60. On the other hand, itthe lighting units are to be very widely spaced, a plurality of therunners 50 may be required between the T-bars.

A construction in accordance with the invention as described aboveprovides means for readily suspending an acoustical treatment includingcombined lighting units in any desired arrange- L-members I ment. Also,the lighting units may be easily removed from time to time, as may benecessary for replacement and repair, merely by unsnapping the flanges22 of the troughs from 'the T-bars.

Having thus described my invention in rather full detail, it will beunderstood that these details need not be strictly adhered to, but thatvarious changes and modifications will suggest themselves to one skilledin the art, all falling within the scope of the invention as defined bythe subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. A ceiling comprising a base, a plurality o supporting bars suspendedtherefrom, said bars lying in substantial parallel relationship to oneanother, elongated lighting units carried by said bars and bridgingcertain of the spaces therebetween, means bridging others of the spacesbetween said bars, and acoustical units supported from said bars andsaid means.

2. A ceiling comprising a base, a plurality of supporting bars suspendedtherefrom, said bars lying in substantial parallel relationship to oneanother, elongated lighting units including flanges in interlockingengagement with said bars and bridging certain of the spacestherebetween, means bridging others of the spaces between said bars, andacoustical units supported from said bars and said means.

3. A partition comprising a base, a plurality of T-bars supported fromsaid base and lying in substantial parallelism to one another, elongatedlighting units including retroverted side flanges detachably interlockedin said T-bars and bridging certain of the spaces between said bars,members bridging others of the spaces between said bars, and acousticalunits supported from said T-bars and said members.

4. A partition comprising a base, a plurality oi T-bars supported fromsaid base and lying in substantial parallelism to one another, said T-bars includingopposed locking lips, elongated lighting units includingretroverted side flanges having beads in removable interlockingengagement with said opposed interlocking lips of said T-bars andbridging certain of the spaces therebetween, members bridging others ofthe spaces between said T-bars, and acoustical units supported from saidT-bars and said members.

5. A partition comprising a base, a plurality of T-bars supported fromsaid base and lying in substantial parallelism to one another, elongatedlighting units carried by said T-bars and bridging certain of the spacestherebetween. means cooperating with said T-bars and bridging others ofthe spaces therebetween, and members carried by said T-bars and saidmeans, respectively, for supporting acoustical units 6. A partitioncomprising a base, a plurality of T-bars supported from said base andlying in substantial parallelism to one another, elongated lightingunits carried by said T-bars and bridging certain of the spacestherebetween, means cooperating with said T-bars and bridging others ofthe spaces therebetween, flanged members carried by said T-bars and saidmeans, respectively, and acoustical units including slotted edges withcertain of the slots embracing the flanges of said members.

7. A partition comprising a base, a purality o! T-bars supported fromsaid base and lying in substantial parallelism to one another, elongatedlighting units including retroverted side flanges detachably interlockedin said T-bars and bridging certain of the spaces between said T-bars,acoustical units spanning others of the spaces between said T-bars, andseparate elements detachably carried by said T-bars for supportingadjacent edges of said units.

8. A partition comprising a base, a plurality of T-bars supported fromsaid base and lying in substantial parallelism to one another,elongated'lighting units including retroverted side flanges detachablyinterlocked in said T-bars and bridging certain of the spaces betweensaid T- bars, acoustical units including slotted edges spanning othersof the spaces between said T- bars, and elements detachablycarried bysaid T-bars and including flanges received in certain of the slots ofsaid units.

9. A partition comprising a base, a plurality of T-bars supported fromsaid base and lying in substantial parallelism to one another, elongatedlighting units including flanges interlocked with ceiving said flanges.

10. A partition comprising a base, a plurality of T-bars supported fromsaid base and lying in substantial parallelism to one another, elongatedlighting units including flanges interlocked with said T-bars andbridging certain of the spaces therebetween, means bridging others ofthespaces between said T-bars, a flanged member supported from saidmeans and extending parallel to said T-bars, flanged elementsinterlocked with said T-bars, and acoustical units including slottededges with certain of the slots thereof receiving the flanges of said,member and elements, and T-members extending at substantially rightangles to said flanged member and T-bars and supported thereby, saidT-members includi' r flanges received in others of the slots of saidacoustical units.

11. A partition comprising a base, a plurality of T-bars supported fromsaid base and lying in substantial parallelism in one another, elongatedlighting units including retroverted side flanges 'detachablyinterlocked in said T-bars and bridging certain of the spacestherebetween, channels bridging others of the spaces between said T-bars, flanged runners extending substantially parallel to said T-barsand supported from said channels, flanged elements including a portionreceived in said T-bars, acoustical units having slotted edges, a slotof an edge of certain of said acoustical units receiving the flanges ofsaid flanged elements and a slot in the edge oi others of saidacoustical units receiving the flanges of said flanged runners, and aslotted edge of each acoustical unit receiving the flange of a flangedmember extending between said runner and element. a

12. A partition comprising a base, a plurality of spaced supportscarried from said base, elongated lighting units carried by saidsupports and bridging certain of the spaces therebetween, meanscooperating with said supports and bridging others of the spacestherebetween, and members carried by said supports and said means,respectively, for supporting acoustical units.

13. A partition comprising a base, a plurality of spaced supportscarried from said base and each including resilient flanges defining areceiving slot, lighting units including retroverted side flangesdetachably interlocked in the retain oi the spaces therebetween,acoustical units including slotted edges spanning others of the spacesbetween said supports, and elements detachably carried by said supportsand including flanges received in certain of the slots of saidacoustical units.

14. A partition comprising a base, a plurality of spaced supportscarried from said base and each including resilient flanges defining. areceiving slot, fighting units including retroverted side flangesdetachably interlocked in the receiving slots of said supports andbridging certain of the spacw therebetween, acoustical units includingslotted edges spanning others 01' the spaces between said supports, andelements having portions detachably interlocked in said receiving slotsand including flanges received in certain -of 1116810 of said acousticalunits.

JOHN A. CHAMBERS.

